1999 Honda Passport LX from North America - Comments

Where would I start with what has gone wrong? Well I was searching the net and came across this site and seen many problems that I have experienced and thought I may help some of you out. I bought the SUV and within the first month, started experience low oil levels. I took the truck back and forth to Honda and they kept telling me that it was normal. Luckily I bought a bumper to bumper extended warranty. They ran tests were I had to come to the dealership every other day so they could monitor the oil. Finally after about two months of doing that and no signs of leak or no dark (or any for that point) somke, Honda decided to replace the engine. The whole engine. So thank gosh I had got the warranty. They had my truck for about two months, working on replacing the engine. It worked, and the oil stays were its supposed until recently. Now about 40,000 miles on the engine and there goes the oil again. I bought the truck because 1. I have a family and we like to travel. Now I am scared to take the truck long distances because what if I don't check the oil every time I stop for gas? 2. I thought I was buying a quality Honda. So on with my story. I got the truck back and it was fine for all about 1 week and the water pump went. Then I experienced the fuel gauge problem. First I thought I was getting really bad gas mileage. I would fill the tank and then about 200 miles later the tank was empty. Then the gauge just showed empty and sometimes full. Once again thank you for the warranty. They had to replace the send unit and the tank sensor. Since that the gauge has worked fine. Now since I just topped 100,000 miles my warranty has expired, and I am scared. Oh and since I bought the truck and get a vibration in the wheels, brakes. I think the rotors are warped. Good Luck to everyone.

This truck would not be recommend to no one.

Whoever said "this honda should NOT be recommended to no one" actually said this honda should be recommended to someone.

I agree completely, this car is a piece of crap.

1998 Passport with only 80,849 miles has bit the big one.

For the most part, I have not had any problems with my Passport since I purchased it new in 1998. With, of course, the exception of the gas gage. It registers Full until, you guessed it, I drive about 25 miles and then it will register Empty. After reading comments on different websites, I see that this is an ongoing problem for 1998 and 1999 Passports.

Now with only 80,849 miles under its belt, my Passport has died. This is nuts, to say the very least. The car overheated once. The thermostat gage ran up to the "H" and then about 10 minutes later went back down to half way between the "C" and the "H", which is where it was all the time anyway. A check of the reservoir for the radiator and a check of the radiator itself showed the car to be down about a quart. Water/anti-freeze was added and a week later the same thing, but this time the thermostat gage never moved from the half-way point. A terrible burning smell and smoke and yes, it was down a quart.

After having this checked by 3, yes THREE, different mechanics, the bottom line was the same - a pin hole in the engine block (somewhere) is causing the coolant to leak into the spark plug, and when this well overflows, it ends up on the engine and then the smoke and the burning smell. Two of the three mechanics said new head gasket, and the third said locating this pin hole will be like finding a needle in a hay stack, and that it was not worth fixing.

I have owned three other brand new cars in my life time, as I buy a new car every 10 years and have been able to put between 150 and 200,000 miles on them (Chevy Monte Carlo; Chevy Blazer; Ford Granada).

Honda's had a reputation for "Going the Distance", and that was one factor for purchasing this car back in 1998. This car was NOT a commuter car, local driving only. The car is perfectly CLEAN inside and out to the point one would say why on earth are you buying a new car. Just shy of 81,000 miles and I'm told to pitch the car because it is not worth fixing - that's nuts.

After reading reviews on the Passports (98 and 99), why would I purchase a new engine and pay to have it put in, when what I have read on more than one site reveals problems with head gaskets/engine blocks.

The Passport was actually an Isuzu Rodeo with Honda badges. It was built by Isuzu, not Honda.

My 1999 Passport has 108K miles. I have had some electrical problems: the lights on the dash have gone out; fixed that; and now they're out again. Last night the rear lights went out. Recently, my husband said that a few times it wouldn't start properly: it sputtered, turned off, and on the second try it would start. Funny, when I drive it: it hasn't done this. Also, haven't had those strange oil problems others mention here.

I take it to the best mechanic in town. He is an Eastern European, studied mechanics there, and is a genius with cars. I would never take my cars to anyone else. I have a strong feeling MOST of the complaints here are the result of people taking their cars too bad mechanics. Believe me: it's worth finding a good one--no matter how expensive --- you will save tons in the long run!

I've only had it for 9 months & still owe $7,000 on it. If I had known this was made by Isuzu, I would never had bought it. I've only driven Honda my whole life & have had very good luck with them.

I have a 1999 Honda Passport that has developed several problems. I purchased this auto used about 4 years ago.

The gas tank sending unit has gone bad like others have wrote about.

The master window unit by the drivers side arm rest has stopped working as far as any other window control goes.

The rear wiper works when it wants to, which is not very often.

The problem now is that when it is cold, it will not turn over, the engine that is. I may have to turn the key 50-70 times to finally get it to turn over. If I drive it and park it for a while, but it is still warm, it will start up the first time.

I have replaced the battery a few months ago as it went bad. I had a mechanic (pep boys) look at a couple of weeks ago and he could not find anything wrong. I think it is the starter, but could it be the key switch? I have replaced the starting repay and nothing changed.

Does anybody have another idea? kendale75@hotmail.com